Pilots of Jet Airways on Sunday resumed work, ending a five—day stir shortly after a settlement with the management under which four sacked pilots were reinstated and a consultative group from the two sides is to be set up to resolve issues through continuous dialogue.
The air operations limped back to normalcy after about 100 of the nearly 500 pilots who went on a mass “sick leave” reported for duties across the country after an “amicable agreement” was announced in Mumbai following a marathon nine—hour meeting that ended at around 0230 HRS on Sunday.
Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal met over 170 pilots at a five—star hotel in a western suburb for about 45 minutes and said he was happy the “misunderstanding was over and the family was united.” The meeting followed an open letter to “colleagues and friends” requesting they “forgive, forget and put behind the past behind you fully and finally.”
As many as 140 flights, including 10 on international routes, remained cancelled today, a company spokesperson said, noting that 98 pilots had reported fit for work this morning.
Jet Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer Sudheer Raghavan told reporters in Mumbai that normal services of the private airline were expected to be restored by Tuesday.
Nearly 500 pilots, who reported “sick” for the last five days, decided to resume their duties after the agreement.
On the status of the National Aviators Guild, which had become the bone of contention between the management and the airline’s pilots, Jet Executive Director Saroj Dutta said there was “no requirement of a union” when the pilots and the management are working together.
Guild President Captain Girish Kaushik said the law of the land would take its course with respect to NAG.
On the losses incurred due to the stir, Mr. Dutta said prior to disruption in services, the airlines revenue used to be around USD eight million a day.
